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Milonguero challenges: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h__lyQr6NJ8, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9sYWTE6LTg. Buenos Aires milongas are often crowded and forward motion impossible, so ability to dance in place is essential. (For safety reasons, only imitate first video!)
Foot position for tango dancing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jRJ_b0WtTw. Video is vals, however same rule applies to tango and milonga: that is, feet should stay close to floor for social dancing at traditional Buenos Aires milongas, to avoid stepping on or kicking other dancers under crowded conditions.
Good explanations of square-shape apilado embrace by Carlos Neuman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19X5RENEhgk, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifuAD2Vspew. Slow motion demonstration of apilado dancing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mbUF0Ig1Y0. Examples of apilado and other embraces at Buenos Aires milongas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpWVchhN1iY.
Another explanation of square-shape apilado embrace (here called milonguero style embrace) by George and Christie of Dance Vision: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_lX-5n52sU. Man instructor advises that leader should walk forwards heel first, however that is not strictly necessary and not my practice, which is for more aggressive forward lean by leader and leader stepping flat or front foot first, imitating cat. Woman instructor advises that follower should take step timing from leader, use leader's timing, never anticipate any particular timing, which is a point I myself emphasize over and over, because failure to follow leader's timing exactly is a common and difficult to fix error of followers, in my experience.
Good explanations of V-shape apilado embrace by Miriam Larici & Leonardo Barrionuevo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zdk-wDB5P_w, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7COH4X5bADU, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuMRrUEyZ5A, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvH_dtc5OHg, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNjSJ_VvMVs, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx7S-aOKQ1w.
Another explanation of apilado embrace (called simply close embrace in video) by Pablo and Anne of Tango-Space: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sD7576fxf9Y
Social dancing at El Beso venue in Buenos Aires: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDppykI9rNA, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2jQws-hq3w, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AllO_Ig7hS0.
More examples of Buenos Aires social dancing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMLD9xeFfbc, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I56gwpHUKuo, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxfzBwSAf8M, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OZNZv7VqJk, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Q-c7Bny0Ck, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_ozbfJECXY, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tto97X5coFY, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3uBh4XSXl0. Last 3 videos feature Ismael Heljalil, who was renowned for his embrace and musicality.
Buenos Aires social dancing by Irma Barrientos y Jorge De Gouvea: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtXEjJGQ-7I.
Demonstration of close embrace dancing to milonga (music style): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOyYsyktsNw.
Ruben and Teressa dance in close embrace to candombe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hx81RhyPXk.
Pedro Sanchez and Rosanna Remon dance in close embrace to Tango, Milonga and Vals music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4cHAE_bqNs.
Exhibitions by Nestor Ray and Patricia García: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqxpVxwZ_zg, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQmIxmfKsiE. Exhibition by Nestor Ray and Silvina Valz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbvrS2tnGa8. Many other YouTube videos of Nestor Ray demonstrate stage rather than social style dancing. I was fortunate to be able to take instruction in-person from Nestor Ray and to frequently watch him dancing in San Francisco in the late 1990's, when he was a regular at milongas there for part of each year.
Exhibitions by Carlos Neuman and Charlene Chiu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qq6qgwE2cuQ, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w6Q-3NeoQc, Carlos Neumann and Angela Baciu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jneNp5Ruj3I, Carlos Neumann and Natalya: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwAZ_mPLGvU, Carlos Neuman and Veronica Centurión: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wa1KuQPohUE. All these videos worth studying carefully as examples of excellent social dancing that would not be too difficult for intermediate level leaders/followers.
Exhibitions by Ricardo Vidort and Muma Valino: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ke5iZc_yxSE, Ricardo Vidort & Jill Barrett: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1wa9pwiiE4, Ricardo Vidort y Vilma Martinez: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=av_EQAOx19E.
Exhibitions by Petaca y Marta Anton: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIt41jEOprc.
Exhibitions by Noelia Hurtado and Carlitos Espinoza: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9IktXuyttg, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0zUP8BIDaE, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOb3FvWF7dg. Beautiful apilado embrace, especially first video. Following exhibition is stage dancing rather than social dancing, but well worth watching nevertheless: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEzp5w0u9g0.
Exhibition by Felipe Zarzar and Patricia Mori: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGUkPYZVTgM. Don't judge followers until you've seen them in action.
Exhibitions by Felipe Zarzar and Mamié Sancy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LslfPMeoM9A, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zo-pyBXOps, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6124hKmQpHk, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeDVK4nhjss.
Exhibition by Che Carlitos and Mamié Sancy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go21_oGaAu8. Everything except high back kick near end suitable for social dancing.
Exhibition by Susana Miller y Semiral Tuncer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ylw2Qw20DOo. Everything suitable for social dancing. Associated YouTube channel has huge collection of videos of milonguero style tango dancing: https://www.youtube.com/@tangomilonguero/videos.
Exhibitions by Osvaldo y Coca Cartery: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xb0ETp_uRpA, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_KMLkqjWQ4, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNYPC9Inw-o. Everything suitable for social dancing (though leader high steps only acceptable if leader positioned so no risk to other couples).
Exhibitions by Chino Perico and Paola Tacchetti: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RV63PK9p1N4, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulzdkkz_02k, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxV5K6HaVpQ, and by Chino Perico and Malena Rodriguez: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlVMuqItCjE, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbH2S95_qOo, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LY1ny2uPM_g. Good model for intermediate level dancers and entirely appropriate for traditional Buenos Aires milongas, other than high kicks, which should be eliminated or kept lower in crowded conditions.
Exhibition by Antonio Martinez and Monica Paz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53eJSvLwIiQ.
Exhibitions by Pocho y Nelly Fernando: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lxclb5Z--hg, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vi4_JExd4Zw, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvoPyexSPkg.
Exhibitions by Shastro and Maria: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjOBovaoh44, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IRzQ-y7Px0, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUTc6TIr7s4. "Simple can be beautiful." All moves suitable for social dancing, though straight ahead walking only possible on non-crowded floors.
Exhibitions by Ned Sabi and Nina: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-vkSbD9ZJ0, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVtdPTwG_K8, and Ned Sabi & Tamara Kleva: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Qko32Im8w0, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRen8BsMdMY. High kicks should be avoided in crowded milongas.
Exhibitions by Rubén Harymbat y Mirta Tiseyra: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPBS5YzXDhk, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-gJSYdF-qo, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmXG4rV4jYI.
Exhibition by Rubén Harymbat y Maria Plazaola: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjZaCaPg2qc.
Exhibition by Rubén Harymbat y Enriqueta Kleinman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfjsLjob0bM.
Rubén Harymbat (and Olga Matveeva?) at Buenos Aires nightclub: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2Bt_Ne9tbw.
Cacho Dante y Rosana Creando dancing to Pugliese at Buenos Aires nightclub: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-lCGjd0qVg, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNrufhzC2N8, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoIHRZV9B8A.
Lucie y Dany at Buenos Aires nightclub: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hq4CgYzT8nA.
Exhibitions by Armando Orzuza and Nuria Martinez: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HM5QmNr2Nk, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZn7AYvMYGA.
Exhibition by Gerardo Portalea y Silvina Damiani: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nBXo3kSitA. Not apilado embrace, not on beat, and not timing I would dance, but worth studying carefully.
Exhibitions by Gerardo Portalea y Susanna: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pORg6wxeV6Q, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxiJ9KyLqTQ.
Exhibition by Gerardo Portalea y Beatriz Pizarro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Le1_MjxsY8c.
Exhibition by Osvaldo Centeno y Ana Maria Schapira: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fzhf8ZatcNM.
Exhibitions by Amanda Lucero and Beto Ayala: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUxVZUtRfA8, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GX-nunHKNqs, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLD-Y5ptZ0s.
Exhibitions by Adela Galeazzi y Santiago Cantenys: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3iaIGV7pog, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUL453JA7qg.
Exhibitions by Eduardo "El Nene" Masci y Roxana L'Arco: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrMVK2d1jW0, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7_SnTbEqJA, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tgzs_B2oTy4, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JGwTcJJZ1I. Everything suitable for social dancing at milongas, provided room available for back kicks.
Exhibitions by Murat Erdemsel and Silvina Tse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkTiW2Fv6Kw, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_X6zSKfns0, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOFxTToSiP8. Irregular step timing. Dancing mostly suitable for milongas.
Exhibition by Christine Lambert & Antonio Llamas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4J6crZm5OEE. Foxtrot rather than tango rhythm (originally by Argentine woman vocalist Tormenta, here recorded by Cruz Montenegro and orchestra Enrique Rodríguez). Dancing not suitable for social dancing at crowded milongas, especially follower kicks, but would be acceptable on mostly empty dance floor.
Extracts from Argentine Films of 1930's, showing tango dancing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ5_WMIQ988. Dancers enjoying themselves with compatible partner more interesting to watch than dancers primarily trying to impress audience. So even if ultimate goal is to impress audience, best way to accomplish that is to focus first on your and your partner's enjoyment. Starting at 1:10 is exhibition by El Cachafaz, legendary old guard era tango dancer, renowned for his elegant style according to todotango.com, however wild kick and hippity-hopping shown in film extract would make him a laughing stock at modern milongas. Another film extract with same El Cachafaz exhibition additionally demonstrates original meaning of cabeceo at 2:03: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSMObGu9DLY. Tango music and dancing, like Dixieland jazz music and dancing, has its roots in brothel culture. Using cabeceo to invite an unknown woman to dance torso pressed against torso and mouths almost touching would have been unthinkable in respectable Argentine society of the early 20th century. Many other scenes in this film extract of ordinary dancers using milonguero embrace, though often without discernible apilado posture, and mostly basic walking steps. Here is another Argentina film extract, again showing very simple dance style: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3iiajFBdZ8. Swing dancing ("cheek to cheek") of same era was equally simple: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrLqM8mZhis, likewise Brazilian Samba dancing of that era: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQES9IL3z8M.
Exhibition by Anna and Osvaldo of canyengue embrace that was popular in early 20th century: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsvBwPcvruk.
Another exhibition of canyengue embrace by Gallego Manolo and Martha Anton: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGR4AalFOKw.
Extract from 1951 Argentine film Direcho Viejo, showing Lita y Jose Mendez in orillero embrace, which is intermediate between canyengue and modern embraces: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTmyIvYvzrQ. Another film from 1948 showing similar embraces, with live performance by D'Arienzo orquesta: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAEeBRbwhJk.
Exhibition by Eleonora Kalganova and Michael Nadtochi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFOrJ0rcaJU. Dancers follow music very closely, however, this is stage dancing and it would be considered disrespectful to other couples on the dance floor to dance this way at a traditional Buenos Aires milonga. When dancing alone, Ms Kalganova shines even more brightly, with extraordinarily closeness between music and her movements: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu3E4WTN_kQ, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5YdcYwvaZU.
Spectacular exhibition by Eleonora Kalganova and Tarek Marroushi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VoOpo9u9oY. Surprisingly tepid applause by audience, probably bored by one spectacular exhibition after another, same boredom I experience watching videos of these spectacular exhibitions.
Exhibitions by Murat Erdemsel and Eleonora Kalganova: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qlmMFeOxZw, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeqalZvqmXk, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8i5vVZAlR6s. Another example of stage dancing. Irregular step timing. I would have preferred to see these superb dancers go an entire song just doing basic walking steps, rather than obscuring musicality with step fanciness.
Exhibitions by Clarisa Aragon and Jonathan Saavedra: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljgZyOKE95k, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_clbLO__D-8, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unJMuA--GJM. Stage dancing, showing extraordinary closeness between sound of music and movement of dancers.
YouTube offers unlimited selection of videos of tango dancing that would be inappropriate at traditional milongas (because ostentatious or dangerous due to wild kicks), or that disrepects and has no relation to music, or both. Unfortunately, such anti-social dancing is what mostly attracts and influences beginners.